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SAMOA’S MANU RUGBY TEAM: ‘GOD’S ON OUR SIDE’ Congregational pastor sends team off to World Cup

By Joyetter Luamanu APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Aug. 30, 2011) - God will pave the way for the Manu Samoa.

That was the message from Reverend Lotu Uele of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Vaiala during a farewell service for the rugby team yesterday.

"When Samoa prepares for an important event, it calls on the heavens to open and God to pave the way to clear it, but most importantly to help," he said.

"You are leaving the shores to compete in a noble undertaking and you are carrying on your shoulders the weight of every man, woman and child of Samoa to participate in what it’s considered a remarkable event."

Reverend Uele acknowledged the triumphs of Manu Samoa over the Western Force in the past weeks and said God has shown favor on Samoa.

He assured the Manu Samoa, that every Samoan’s support would be with the team during the...

Some passengers contacted loved ones on their mobile phones. One passenger said she immediately remembered the Princess Ashika tragedy and she started praying it wouldn’t be repeated in Samoa.

According to reports from passengers, the ferry left Upolu at 4 pm. But the engines experienced problems midway between Apolima and their destination. The tide was high, there were strong winds and the ferry was beginning to drift.

The incident according to the passenger happened at 4:40 pm. The engine problems were followed by an announcement in Samoan. Translated into English, it said; "As you have obviously realized, we are having some trouble getting to our destination. Please be patient."

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Aug. 31, 2011) - The planned recall of parliament next Tuesday has been described as a ploy to disqualify Sir Michael Somare from the East Sepik parliamentary seat he has held for more than 40 years.

East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu stated this in a second submission delivered to the Ombudsman Commission yesterday, calling on the watchdog to use its powers to stop parliament from meeting on Sept 6.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had announced last week that parliament would be recalled two weeks ahead of schedule to discuss important national issues. Among them were the proposed Hela and Jiwaka provinces and the reserved seats for women.

Public notices to that effect were this week placed in the daily newspapers by Speaker Jeffery Nape, announcing the early recall of parliament.

Wararu said in a statement last night that the national government was...

By Haidee V. Eugenio SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Nov. 1, 2011) – U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano signed on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. the long-delayed regulations governing foreign workers in the CNMI, paving the way for DHS to publish the regulations in the Federal Register this week.

There's less than three months to go before the Nov. 27 expiration of the two-year period allowed under the federalization law wherein workers can still remain in the CNMI using a Commonwealth-issued permit.

After Nov. 27, foreign workers need to have a U.S. employment visa such as a transitional CW visa or an H visa, or they could face deportation.

By Esther Tinning SANTO, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Aug. 30, 2011) – The move by Vanuatu’s North Islands Stevedoring Company Limited (NISCOL) to reinstate husband of Deputy Mayor, Elisabeth Tasso, soon after she changed allegiance to join the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) clearly revealed [the political party’s strong] influence in the company, although [the company claims it answers only to its shareholders.] This is the view of a politician and political observer, Paul Solomon, when he visited Daily Post recently to raise his concern.

Councilor Elisabeth Tasso’s husband, who was an employee with the NISCOL company for over 20 years, was terminated during the formation of the Luganville Municipal Council. The termination took affect after attempts to convince her to join a bloc in the formation of the council failed, but one day after she decided to join the UMP bloc, Chief Tasso was reinstated as an...

By Tupuola Terry Tavita APIA, Samoa (Savali, Aug. 25, 2011) – The embattled coup-installed military regime in Fiji should not be a focus in next month’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Auckland, says the Samoan prime minister.

The question was put to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi by Savali this week if there is any chance Fiji can again be suggested to rejoin the Forum in the Auckland leaders meeting.

"What for?" asked Tuilaepa. "The regime there is getting worse."

Asked to clarify this comment, he added: "Well, there are reports that Bainimarama is paying himself five different ministerial salaries from the five different ministerial portfolios he’s overseeing. That’s on top of his salary as Prime Minister. The Attorney-General is reportedly also doing the same. And they are both being paid through an accounting firm owned by the AG’s aunt- from cash paid directly from the...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Aug. 31, 2011) – Canada's Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Canadian International Training & Education Corp (CITREC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that opens doors for introduction of Canadian education in the Solomon Islands.

Kwantlen's President and Vice-Chancellor John McKendry and CITREC head Ashwant Dwivedi signed the MoU in a ceremony last week.

In partnership with Kwantlen Polytechnic University, CITREC will carry out an academic feasibility study in the Solomon Islands that will assist both parties in consultation with the Solomon Islands government to identify academic programs which can be offered.

Kwantlen Chancellor Arvinder Bubber witnessed the historic ceremony. "This is the first partnership between Kwantlen and CITREC, and we are excited about the...

By Jennifer Kakai HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Aug. 31, 2011) – The public sector unions yesterday afternoon had called off the ongoing industrial action, meaning all members should resume normal duty today. This was after the public sector unions met with permanent secretaries of relevant ministries, special secretary to the Prime Minister Andrew Muaki and secretary to special duty John Tuhaika.

[PIR editor's note: The nationwide strike that concerned nursing, medical and educational workers in the Solomon Islands last week was due to members of the Public Sector Unions seeking an 11.5 percent cost of living adjustment to their salaries. After a meeting with government officials, who countered with a 2 percent increase, yielded no results, members went on strike across the country.]

NUKU΄ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Aug. 31, 2011) - A parliamentary committee, formed on July 26 to produce a report on how the Nuku‘alofa Development Corporation administered and spent a TOP118 million [US$72 million] loan from China on the reconstruction of central Nuku΄alofa, remains in limbo.

A month ago the Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano tabled the motion to the House for the formation of the committee as a matter of urgency because it was a Cabinet decision. The motion was carried with a majority vote of 14-2, against were ‘Aisake Eke and Fusitu’a.

The Prime Minister told the House that negotiation was underway on a proposal for the committee to be funded by either the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.

He nominated ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Dr Sitiveni Halapua to lead the House’s research committee, which was to also to include an independent lawyer and the government’s Auditor General.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Aug. 29, 2011) – The Solomon Islands is determined to use its mineral resources to improve the well-being of its citizens and not lead to conflict.

The Solomon Islands have made a landmark decision by choosing to endorse the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, as a cornerstone of transparency in the management of the country's growing mining sector. Minister of Finance and Treasury Gordon Darcy Lilo made the announcement at the EITI regional conference hosted last week in East Timor.

Making the announcement, Lilo said, as a country emerging from conflict, Solomon Islands is, "determined to use its mineral resources to improve the well being of its citizens rather than to allow the resources become a source of future conflict."

With the endorsement of EITI, Solomon Islands now join 58 other countries in various...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.